Josephine County airport manager outlines runway, hangar and fuel projects; board approves limited power of attorney for hangar permits

Michael Crispoli, the county’s newly hired airport manager, told the Josephine County Board of Commissioners on April 1 that several construction and operational projects are expected at the Grants Pass and Illinois Valley airports this year, and the board approved a limited power of attorney to allow county staff to sign permit applications for two private hangars.

Crispoli said he started at the airport about two weeks ago and has prioritized projects that include a planned extension of the Grants Pass runway by roughly 700 feet, a hangar construction program, new water and sewer work, and a fuel farm at Illinois Valley. “The biggest project is the Runway 13/31 extension, 700 feet,” Crispoli said. He also described five sets of four hangars planned to begin dirt work when weather permits and said construction could be underway in July or August.

The runway extension has been discussed since 2008, Crispoli said, and he reported plans were “90%” complete and that construction could start this summer if financing options proceed. On utilities, he said the county had completed running a sewer line to the airport and that the water line was about one-third finished. “That should be done in the next …” Crispoli said, noting water work was in progress.

Crispoli described a planned Illinois Valley fuel farm with a 6,000-gallon tank due by the fall and said he wants Illinois Valley to offer very competitive fuel pricing for the region. “My goal … is to make that Illinois Valley fuel farm the most competitive price for fuel in Southern Oregon, if not Northern California,” he said. He added the farm would be scaled to allow expansion depending on demand.

Crispoli also reported the airport is still operating on a fee schedule last updated in February 2007 and that staff are compiling comparative rate schedules from other airports to propose an updated schedule. He said the analysis and a suggestion to the airport advisory board would be ready by about June 1; the advisory board was expected to be reconstituted that evening.

During discussion, commissioners and staff raised related operational items: marketing the industrial park tied to Illinois Valley Airport, exploring a crew car so transient pilots can access nearby towns, and options for county-funded incentives to hook property owners to the new water and sewer lines. Public works staff estimated a full hookup could cost about $30,000 each, including grinder pumps, roughly equivalent to replacing a septic system.

The board voted to approve a limited power of attorney that allows county staff to sign permit applications for two private 50-by-50 hangars on county-owned airport property. The authorization was described as limited to this project and to the necessary building and permit applications; commissioners instructed staff to sign the documents after the meeting. The board recorded the motion as carried, 3 to 0.

Crispoli also said there is a backlog of leases awaiting an updated fee schedule; he plans to clear that backlog after the rate analysis and advisory-board input. He told the board he would pursue financing alternatives for the runway and coordinate with tenants as projects proceed.

The airport update was delivered as part of the County Administration workshop. Commissioners asked staff to return with more detailed budget information and implementation plans as each project advances.